Government should invest more in Access to Work, says TUC

The TUC has welcomed a report published on Friday by the Work and Pensions Committee that calls for funding and training improvements for the Access to Work (AtW) scheme, which helps disabled people into employment.

The Committee’s report Improving Access to Work for Disabled People says that funding increases for AtW are a cost-effective approach to improving the employment rate for disabled people. The Committee also calls on ministers to do more to ensure that employers and disabled people are made aware of the scheme and the types of help it can provide.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Access to Work has long proved its worth and is excellent value for the tremendous economic and social benefits it brings by making employment possible for many disabled people.

“We particularly welcome recommendations to improve the scheme for people with mental health conditions and to lift the limitations on access to sign language interpretation.

“Ministers must follow the call to provide better training to Department for Work and Pensions staff as it is unfair on both disabled people and the staff who are being asked to do a job that requires specialist skills without sufficient support.”